The Vikings are taking on the Bears on Monday night to end Week 1. Both teams have some unknown, with the Bears having a completely new coaching staff after last year’s disaster, while the Vikings have a quarterback taking his first snaps in the NFL.
Ben Johnson takes over as head coach for the Bears, tasked with making life easier for Caleb Williams, who struggled immensely last year. Kickoff is set for 8:15 pm ET at Soldier Field. We look at our favorite Vikings-Bears props for the NFC North battle, along with NFL betting bonuses you can use for your picks.
| Vikings-Bears Props | Odds |
| Jordan Mason 40+ Rushing Yards | -102 on FanDuel |
| D'Andre Swift Over 15.5 Receiving Yards | -110 on Fanatics |
| T.J. Hockenson Over 40.5 Receiving Yards | -110 on Fanatics |
Mason Gets Work on the Ground
For this play, we are trying to take advantage of a line that is a little too low for the projected workload for Jordan Mason.
The backfield is going to be a split between Mason and Aaron Jones Sr., with Jones Sr. being more of a scat-back type of RB with Mason doing a lot of stuff between the tackles. Forty is a low line that makes it seem like it's going to be more of Jones backfield, which is how we project this situation.
In terms of the matchup, while it is a different coaching staff, so take this with a grain of salt, but the Bears’ run defense was atrocious last year, especially as the year went on. On the year, the Chicago Bears allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game on the fourth-most yards per carry. To go even deeper than that, they had the fourth-worst stuff rate in the NFL, and the second-highest adjusted yards per carry as well.
Swift Gets Involved Through the Air
On the other side of the ball, we are expecting D'Andre Swift to get some work in the passing game. Last year, granted with a different coaching staff, Swift went over this number in 10 of 17 games. If anything, this coaching staff should be even better for Swift, as the Johnson-led offense from the last couple years used both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs heavily in the Lions passing game.
Swift is the type of RB who is dynamic when he gets the ball out with space in front of him and is less impactful as a true runner between the tackles. Ben Johnson knows this from their time together in Detroit, and the guess here is that Swift receives a lot of swing passes, check-downs and RB screens.
This was also a Minnesota Vikings defense that had a very good run defense last year, allowing the second-fewest rushing yards per game on the fourth-lowest yards per carry. With the same coaching staff and defensive roster, they should figure to be good again this year. So, expect Swift to get involved in the receiving game in this one.
Trust Hockenson for Vikings Offense
For our last Vikings-Bears prop pick, we are backing T.J. Hockenson to be involved for the Vikings offense. This is a 40.5 number that he went over in 6/11 games last year, and it is important to remember the context from his season last year.
He returned in November from a devastating knee injury suffered last in the previous season and played limited snaps upon his return. His first game back he was only on the field for 45% of the snaps and went under this 40.5 number. After that, he went over in 6/10 games, averaging almost 50 receiving yards per game. He also played 62% of the snaps, which jumped up to 67% of the snaps in the remaining eight games.
The year prior, granted with Kirk Cousins at QB and before the knee injury, Hockenson went over this number in 13/15 games. With Jordan Addison out for this game due to a suspension, expect Hockenson to be involved in the Vikings offense, hopefully recording 41 or more receiving yards.